Blades Meets Press, But Not Police

July 12, 1995|By Sergio R. Bustos, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

PLANTATION, Fla. — Pro football player Brian Blades--the sole eyewitness to the July 5 shooting death of his cousin--told a gaggle of reporters on Tuesday that he loved his cousin and that the shooting was nothing more than an accident.

"I'm here today to look at all of you in the eye and tell you that the death of my cousin Charles was an accident," said Brian Blades, quietly speaking into a bouquet-like arrangement of microphones set up on the lawn of his mother's home.

"The police know Charles' death was an accident, and most important, God knows Charles' death was an accident. Neither Charles nor I ever intended that Charles would be shot.

"I loved Charles and he loved me," the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver said. "Truth and justice will ultimately be clear."

Two Plantation police detectives stood quietly amid the reporters. They scribbled notes, but refused to comment about Blades' statement or their investigation.

Blades, casually dressed in a blue T-shirt, a pair of dark slacks and wearing black sneakers, broke down almost as soon as he began reading the short handwritten statement. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Blades had penned the words to assure the public of his innocence.

After reading the statement, Blades, a former University of Miami star, turned around and walked toward the front door of his mother's home, joining his father, Fred, his mother, Rosa, and his longtime confidant and junior high school track coach, John Alexander.

Rosenhaus did not allow reporters to ask his client any questions. And only Rosenhaus fielded questions.

Rosenhaus spent much of his time fending off questions about Brian Blades' actions the morning of the shooting and why the football player had yet to give police a statement. He said he knew nothing of those details because his client had not spoken to him about it.

As in previous statements, Rosenhaus said Blades couldn't speak to police because he's still grieving over the loss of Charles Blades. He said Brian Blades came forward on Tuesday to put to rest any notion that his cousin was intentionally shot.

"He's being treated as a suspect by the press," Rosenhaus said. "That portrayal has been inaccurate."

Despite Blades' grief, Rosenhaus said his client would report to the opening day of the Seahawks' training camp on July 21.

"He needs to play football," said Rosenhaus. "It's therapeutic."

Rosenhaus said he was not concerned "with legal ramifications" of the shooting. The legal ramifications do concern police, however. They said Brian Blades is like any other witness in any other shooting and police want to talk to him about it.

Police said Blades was the only other person in the second-floor office of his Chatham Towne condo early July 5 when his cousin, Charles Blades, 34, of Opa-locka, fell dead from a single bullet that struck him under the chin.

Police say that two shots were fired from a gun owned by Brian Blades and that a disturbance at the nearby home of Brian's brother, Bennie Blades, may have been related to the shooting. Beyond those few details, police have said they only have circumstantial evidence of the shooting.

For the past week, police have said they have wanted to interview Brian Blades about the shooting. On Tuesday, following Brian Blades' statement, Rosenhaus said Brian Blades would not speak to police until he gets a subpoena or is asked to appear in a courtroom.

Police have said the investigation may conclude this week. Their findings will be turned over to the Broward State Attorney's Office.